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The memorial itself, was pretty hard to watch. I never knew Paul Sills. I tried, for the past three summers, to get friends to go up to Door County to work with him, but never could. I think a weeklong improv intensive with one of the founding fathers with camping at night would've been a blast, but for some reason, it was a hard sell for everyone else. So, I never went. And now that he's dead, I never will. Regrets. Regrets. Regrets.
The memorial was a bit of a Who's Who of Older Chicago Improvisers. I saw Dick Schall there. (And I have to admit, I had to do a little digging to find out who he was.) Bernie Sahlins. Sheldon Patinkin. And some other folks. David introduced me to Dave Pasquesi and we had a very nice, little chat about "Factory", his new show, while people pulled David away to introduce him to someone or other. I found Dave to be one of the most genuinely pleasant, humble guys in improv. You should've seen him laugh about his bad reviews. I think it's all just a fun adventure for him. He's a really nice guy. I also got to chat briefly with Allison, Kelly Leonard, Joyce Sloane and Andrew Alexander. All of them respected mainstays of the Second City family.
Later, just before the speeches began, I saw these two fixtures in the Chicago Theater scene, enter the room to take their seats.
(I don't want to print their names, in case they Google themselves. I'm cool with everyone else in this article Googling themselves, but I would feel wierd about this particular young man, reading this particular entry. Dunno why.)
I caught sight of them taking seats, just before the lights went out and they sat up near the front of the seating area. JP was dressed just as you see him here. Same suit, maybe. His mom had a very sensible black suit on. Most of us were wearing black, that day.
I know who JP is. I like his show and he's made me laugh repeatedly, with some of the things that he's done and said on that show. I even like some of his movies. And because of the parts that he's played, he comes across as "The Guy That You Want To Hang Out With", A Good Time Charley, A Pal. But I don't REALLY know him. I just know the parts that he's played.
And sitting there in the dark of the theater, watching him silence his cell phone and take nervous sips from his bottled water and hold his mom's hand, I caught myself noting that he was just a guy. Just a normal guy. At a memorial, with him mom.
And all of the notions of celebrity-dom just washed off of him and I honestly forgot that he was there.
His mom spoke second and it was a little heart-breaking. She was deeply saddened by Paul's passing. And she broke a few times, but got it under control. She ended her piece by reciting a bit of poetry. And while her voice might've cracked throughout the speech, it was polished and smooth when she applied herself to the poem and even that was very touching. JP got up from his seat to help her down the stairs to her seat.
And then he spoke for a bit. Very briefly, actually. About the bond between his family and the Sills family. And about how much he took from his lessons with Paul and his time with Second City (on the touring show, no less). He talked briefly about how he wanted to take "the sense of play" that he learned from Paul and apply it to his film work, leaving time for the perfect take, whenever it came. And then he thanked us and sat down and sipped his bottled water.
Just a guy. Speaking at a memorial for a former teacher and a family friend. Honoring that friend's work and lookign forward to using it again. A nice, little, impromptu speech. I checked and he wasn't on the dais. I guess Sheldon (our host) asked him to speak briefly and that's what he said. And that's probably why he nervously sipped his water beforehand, because he was putting together what he wanted to say.
After the memorial ended, I chatted briefly with Bumper Carrol and Jeff Sweet and made my way out of the room. While Jeff and I were talking, JP, was right behind us, calling David Shepherd's voicemail to leave his private cell phone number for David to call him on. Apparently he's going to appear on David's new video about The Compass Players, that he's working on. I noted the odd moment that I could get JP's private cell phone number, but then thought, "What would I do with it anyways" and went back to my conversation with Jeff Sweet. Just before he left, JP excused himself by passing between us and exiting with his mom.
And I noted the chance to speak with him, to say, "Hey man, I really like your show" or "I'm a big fan of your work" or something similar to that, but just didn't feel the need to do that. I didn't need a personal connection with him. He and I were just two guys at a memorial for someone that we both respected. Sure, one of us happens to be internationally famous and has won an Emmy, but there and then, at that place and time, we were strangers and equals and I was content to let it stay that way.
I don't know if meeting Johnny Depp last month and ruminating on that has burned all of the star-worship out of me, but I felt different being around JP. Less concerned with who he was and what he's done and happy to not let things be, between us. Happy to be a fan of his work, but not go on and on to him about it. I don't know. Maybe my feelings about celebrities has changed. I guess I'll know the next time I am around one of them.
Cheers,
Mr.B
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